Aphenphosmphobia | Fear of Being Touched

(a-fen-fawzim-fo-be-ah)

What is Aphenphosmphobia?

Aphenphosmphobia is the extreme or irrational fear of touching or being touched. It is also known by several names or spellings including Haphephobia, Aphephobia and Thixophobia.

Aphenphosmphobia is also directly related to Chirophobia (Chiraptophobia), a fear of hands. People with this phobia may despise any sort of physical contact and will naturally also be susceptible to fears of sex and intimacy of any sort.

Causes of Aphenphosmphobia

Aphenphosmphobia is a social anxiety disorder. Social phobias result in avoidance of social situations due to fear of being embarrassed in public. Social phobia affects men and women equally. Extreme social anxieties often start in childhood or adolescence and may be accompanied by other anxiety disorders or depression.

The origins of social anxiety disorders are not as well understood as specific (or “isolated”) phobias, where a direct fear of injury from some specific animal, thing or situation forms a clear basis for the fear. Even so, hereditary factors may be present, such as a genetic tendency to be “high strung” or nervous, etc.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Aphenphosmphobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.